This paper studies how firms reorganize after diversifying into related businesses. Specifically, we propose that outsourcing is one way to reduce the coordination costs that arise in multidivisional firms. We, also, examine the mechanisms underlying coordination costs, and show how alternative...

Informal long-term relationships and mutual confidence play a crucial role in modern economies in at least two dimensions. First, the performance of firms is strongly affected by their capacity to solve organizational questions effectively and this capacity is apparently strongly related to...

Informal long-term relationships and mutual confidence play a crucial role in modern economies in at least two dimensions. First, the performance of firms is strongly affected by their capacity to solve organizational questions effectively and this capacity is apparently strongly related to...

Informal long-term relationships and mutual confidence play a crucial role in modern economies in at least two dimensions. First, the performance of firms is strongly affected by their capacity to solve organizational questions effectively and this capacity is apparently strongly related to...

To explain organizational decisions in multistage production processes we assume a production process with one producer and two suppliers of which one is the firm's direct supplier and the other one is the supplier of the supplier. The firm decides only on the organizational form of her direct...

We examine firm and industry characteristics associated with outsourcing and the relation between outsourcing and capital structure using a unique database of purchase contracts for a measure of firm outsourcing. We document firm, industry, and supplier characteristics that are significantly...

Recent empirical evidences show negative relationship between outsourcing and profitability. This paper provides a theoretical explanation for this phenomenon. In an oligopoly model, we show that firms earn lower profits in the outsourcing equilibrium compared to the situation where neither firm...

We study the determinants of the location of sub-contracted activity in a general equilibrium model of outsourcing and trade. We model outsourcing as an activity that requires search for a partner and relationship-specific investments that are governed by incomplete contracts. The extent of...

This paper examines renegotiation design in contracts for outsourced information technology (IT) services. While prior literature in information systems (IS) has highlighted the likelihood of ex post rent seeking engendered by renegotiation, we build upon literature on incomplete contracts to...

We study relational contracts as a means to govern transactions across firm boundaries. We focus on the airline industry, where real-time adaptation of flight schedules under bad weather is not formally contractible, and yet is essential for performance and long-term profitability. While...